The night sky over the Blackflame Domain glowed faintly crimson, as though even the heavens bore witness to the sins that dwelled below. Stars flickered dimly behind the veil of haze, their light choked by the oppressive aura of the mountains. Within the walls of the Lian Clan's fortress, however, the air was alive with whispers.
Zhen sat in his quarters, the flickering lamplight casting his shadow across the stone walls. His mind was far from still. Though the duel with Lian Shan had cemented his place as someone to be feared, fear alone was not enough. Fear was fleeting. It had to be nurtured, fed, and twisted into obedience. And for that, he needed more than raw strength—he needed a web of schemes.
The System stirred in his mind, as if echoing his thoughts.
[Villain System: New Quest Generated]
Quest: Sow discord within the clan to weaken unity.
Objective: Orchestrate internal conflict among at least two Elders.
Reward: Villain Archive Unlock (10 additional profiles).
Zhen leaned back slowly, lips curling into a faint smile. "So… you want me to set fire to the roots of my own clan? How fitting."
The next day, the Grand Hall bustled with quiet tension. Elders convened around the obsidian table, their discussions sharp with undertones of rivalry. Patriarch Lian Xu sat at the head, his expression unreadable. His gaze occasionally flicked to Zhen, who stood to the side in respectful silence.
Zhen kept his head bowed, but his mind raced. The Villain System's archives whispered within him, offering tools for his task.
Poison Monarch: Manipulation through whispers. Subtle venom in words is deadlier than blades.
Shadow Maiden Yue: Distrust grows best in shadows. Illuminate one truth, hide three lies.
And Kongtu's thunderous voice rumbled faintly in his mind, Divide them as you would an enemy army. Split their blades before they're ever drawn.
Zhen's eyes narrowed. Yes… The path was clear.
That evening, he made his first move.
Zhen approached Elder Lian Huo, a burly man with a temper as fierce as fire itself. The elder was known for his open disdain toward Elder Lian Shui, who favored cold calculation over brute strength. The two had clashed for decades, but never fatally so. Yet tonight, Zhen would tilt the scales.
"Elder Huo," Zhen greeted, bowing respectfully.
The elder grunted, narrowing his eyes. "What do you want, boy? Come to gloat after humiliating Shan?"
Zhen shook his head, feigning humility. "I only wish to serve the clan. But… I overheard something troubling during my recovery."
Lian Huo raised a brow, his curiosity piqued despite his gruffness. "Go on."
Zhen lowered his voice, as though sharing a dangerous secret. "Elder Shui spoke ill of you before the Patriarch. He claimed that your methods of training are wasteful… that you lack the discipline to guide the younger generation. He even implied that you would bring ruin if given greater responsibility."
The words were carefully chosen, dipped in venom. He offered no proof, only a suggestion. But the seed was planted.
Lian Huo's face darkened, his fists clenching. "That snake-tongued bastard…"
Zhen stepped back, bowing. "I should not have spoken of this. Forgive me. I only feared disunity among our leaders."
Then he left quickly, not allowing the elder time to question further. Behind him, he heard Huo's ragged breathing and muttered curses.
One spark, lit.
Two days later, Zhen visited Elder Lian Shui. This time, his approach was colder, more measured. Shui valued intellect and subtlety, so Zhen shifted his mask accordingly.
"Elder Shui," Zhen greeted softly. "I am troubled."
The elder glanced up from the scrolls laid out before him, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Speak."
Zhen sighed, lowering his gaze. "I was training in the courtyard when I overheard Elder Huo speaking to some of the disciples. He said you were too cowardly to act decisively, that your schemes are nothing but cowardice dressed as strategy. He claimed that you only live because the Patriarch shields you."
The elder's hand froze above his scroll. A flicker of ice crossed his features. "Is that so?"
Zhen nodded reluctantly, as though it pained him to reveal it. "I beg you, Elder, do not take my words too harshly. I only worry that such talk will sow discord among the clan."
Lian Shui dismissed him with a wave, but Zhen caught the slight tremor in his fingers as he resumed writing.
Two sparks, fanned.
By the week's end, the hall was thick with animosity. Huo and Shui's glares burned hotter than ever, their disputes more venomous. Every minor decision became a battlefield—discipline methods, patrols, allocation of resources. The clan began to fracture, though none dared speak it openly.
And Zhen watched, silent, as the seeds of discord sprouted.
The System stirred once more.
[Quest Progress: 70%]
Condition: Conflict must escalate into open hostility.
Zhen smirked faintly. It would not be long now.
That night, within his System Space, the villains stirred. Poison Monarch's laughter echoed through the void.
"Yes… Yes… your tongue drips venom sweetly, boy. But do not grow complacent. Whispers alone cannot carve bloodlines."
Shadow Maiden Yue appeared at his side, her voice cold as mist. "True discord is born when trust is shattered before witnesses. Guide their wrath into light, and they will never turn back."
Kongtu roared in agreement. "Break them in front of the clan. Let all see their weakness. Then you may claim dominion."
Zhen's eyes glimmered with resolve. He already knew what he must do.
The following day, Zhen waited in the training grounds where the younger disciples gathered. He deliberately spoke with a voice just loud enough to be overheard.
"I only hope the elders do not come to blows," he muttered to a fellow disciple. "If Elder Huo truly believes Elder Shui plots against him, what will become of us? And if Elder Shui believes Elder Huo undermines him before the Patriarch, then surely blood will be shed."
The disciple's eyes widened, and soon the whispers spread like wildfire.
By dusk, half the clan was buzzing with rumors. And when the Grand Hall convened once more, the inevitable occurred.
Elder Huo slammed his fist against the table, rising to his feet. "Shui, you dare spit poison behind my back?"
Elder Shui stood calmly, though his voice dripped with frost. "Perhaps if you were not so easily provoked, others would not need to question your competence."
Huo's aura flared like fire, Shui's like ice, clashing violently in the hall. Elders muttered, disciples whispered in terror. Patriarch Lian Xu's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, allowing the storm to brew.
And in the shadows, Zhen watched… and smiled.
The web was tightening.
[Quest Progress: 100%]
Reward Unlocked: 10 Villain Archives.
Within his mind, ten new voices screamed, laughed, and cursed, swelling his power even further.
The Lian Clan did not yet realize it, but a storm far greater than their petty disputes had already begun. And at its center stood Lian Zhen, weaving his web one thread at a time.